Weekend picks · 24–25 October
Our picks for the weekend: half-term starts
Monsters in the city centre, a spooky Tudor hall, pumpkin picking and a picture-book show, most of them free or nearly free.
Published .
Half-term starts on Saturday, and Halloween is everywhere. Here are five things worth getting out for, plus one for if it rains and one to book before it goes.
Free, both days. The giant inflatable MCR Monsters are back on buildings across the city centre for half-term, and this weekend there’s storytelling, games, a free sweet stop and a monster procession with stilt walkers and a brass band. Come in fancy dress. The tram from Timperley gets you there without the parking.
Sunday, £3 cash, under-10s free. Volunteers dress every room of the Tudor hall in its own spooky theme, with characters to find. No booking, so it’s easy to fit round the rest of the day, and Wythenshawe Park is next door for a run around.
Free, all week. Pick up a map at the Bean and Brush cafe, find the missing pumpkins around Stanley Square and hand in your sheet for a treat. Short enough for toddlers, and a quarter of an hour from Timperley.
Free entry, pumpkins from £2. Four acres and over 25 kinds of pumpkin, and you only pay for what you carry off. Wellies essential. There’s a covered carving area if it rains.
Sunday 2.30pm, £12 a child. A lively stage version of the picture book, with physical comedy, live music and Makaton. Under an hour, and good for ages 3 and up.
If it rains
Free entry and an alien theme for half-term: design an alien, build a spaceship, play space games on the big screen. Over-7s can try the stop-motion studio, but places are limited, so get there early.
Book now, before it goes
Yes, it’s October, but the Dunham Barn’s private Santa visits are two-thirds booked already. More in our Santa grottos guide.
Everything else on this weekend is on our this weekend page, and the whole week is on the October half-term page.
Details change, so check with the organiser before you set off. Spotted something wrong, or know an event we've missed? Tell us.